Fight Poverty: Educate Women in Panama

The CAPTA program from Calicanto Foundation has meant a real change in the Community of Panama. There are already over 1250 women who have changed their lives for the better, and have thereby improved the life of their family.

Undoubtedly, the donations we receive, both national and international, have helped us to sustain ourselves financially and reach more women each year. When we started this great project in 2005, we were able to graduate about 70 women per year. We are now close to 200 women per year, and we continue to grow thanks to the unconditional support of donors who come from all over the world.

We are now in Colon and Panama city, and we keep working to reach new communities in need. Right now we are working with our 4^th group in Panama and our 3^rd group in Colon this year. We will close the year with 2 more groups of 30 women each.

We feel that our results are important, but it is more important to show you what CAPTA women feel and think about the program. Next you will read an interview a volunteer had with Angela, a woman of our 4^th group in 2017:

1. How would you describe yourself?

I am a 27 year old woman, entrepreneur and unique. I am also an excellent mother of an 8 year old boy.

2. What does the Calicanto Foundation mean to you?

Calicanto Foundation means the beginning; Now I am able to undertake and achieve what I want to be in the future. For me it is a great opportunity because I feel I have a new mission in life that I have to fulfill and I will do my best to have a better quality of life. 

3. In what ways do you think the program helps the girls who enter it?

The CAPTA program is a support program for women who are most in need. It is for those women who want to fight for their dreams, but who have not yet managed to know how to do it. I feel that the same program gives the opportunity to those people who have not found necessary support in others. Thanks God there is the CAPTA program.

4. How do you see yourself in the future?

I see myself being a CAPTA woman who wants to teach everything she learns here to her Community, because they gave me the opportunity and I put it into practice whith my family and neighbors, so that we can change all our Community. The idea is to move forward together.

5. What does your family tell you about this decision you made to join the Foundation?

My mother is the most beautiful woman in the world and I have her support one hundred percent. My family supports me and that motivates me a lot to keep going.

6. What are you going to miss most about CAPTA?

 From the first day I arrived here I felt an inner emotion to know my the teachers, but at the same time I felt afraid for everything new that I was going to face, but now that fear is gone, and everything has changed. I will miss my friends; I will miss them very much. I have thought of that many times, we are great companions. I will also miss my teachers because I would have the desire to see them again in each of their classes; I will miss them very much.

7. Do you think the Foundation's work is important?

The Calicanto Foundation has many goals, and we are part of it, and that is very nice because it makes you feel important, part of something great. They have many goals of improvement outlined towards a surpassing and fighter woman, a woman ready to face any obstacle from the labor and personal areas.

I believe in what they do in support of women, and when I can I would like to support the Foundation and be a volunteer to help other women like me.

Links:

• Fundacion Calicanto Panama